Totally extra-peritoneal (TEP) versus tension free mesh repair for inguinal hernia

Aim: to compare the outcome of the totally extra peritoneal (tep) versus tension free mesh repair for inguinal hernia in terms of post-operative pain and mean hospital stay study design: randomized controlled trial place and duration of study: department of surgery,mayo hospital lahore from jan 2014 to dec 2014 and department of surgery,shalamar hospital lahore from jan 2015 to dec 2015. methods: inguinal hernia patients were admitted electively. they were randomly assigned into groups a and b. the group a patients were treated with laparoscopic total extraperitoneal repair (tep) and group b patients underwent lichtenstein's repair. patients were evaluated for discharge rate and postoperative pain. results: a total of 400 patients were included with 200 in each group. the post-op pain was observed in only 7% patients whereas it was not observed in 93% patients.statistically there is significant difference was found between the study groups and post-op pain of the patients i.e. p-value=0.031. the mean hospital stay of group a was 1.95±0.75 days whereas the mean hospital stay of group b was 2.70±0.85 days. statistically there is significant difference was found between the study groups and stay in hospital of the patients i.e. p-value=0.019. conclusion: our study results showed that the tep technique is more effective and safe as compared to lichenstein repair techniques for inguinal hernia repair.